One Summer in Savannah: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, illness, rape, and sexual content.

On the day of Daniel’s interview, Sara takes Alana to the bookstore to try to insulate both of them. In the afternoon, Birdie comes to the store. Sara quickly sends Alana to the store next door and then approaches Birdie. Birdie accuses Sara of lying about the rape. Sara prickles, expecting to feel the same shame and rage she felt at the trial, but “the venom of her words is no longer a death sentence” (355). Sara can calmly insist that she told the truth. Birdie leaves, and Sara is surprised that instead of anger, she mostly feels sadness and sympathy for Jacob and even Birdie.

A short time later, some children throw bricks and rocks through store windows, including the bookstore’s windows. Sara is terrified at first and rushes next door to check on Alana. The police arrive quickly, and then Jacob comes bursting in through the broken window, rushing to Sara and Alana like a protective father. He comforts them and arranges to have the police talk to Sara later. He brings them home in his truck and assures Sara that he’ll make sure the windows are repaired.